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A review by prathyush
History of Modern India by Bipan Chandra
3.0
TL;DR
This book provides a brief summary of the Indian history from the period of the downfall of Moghul Empire (1707- Aurangazeb's death) to the Indian Independence from the British rule in 1947. It provides an account of the following events of the Modern Indian History: the fall of Mughal Empire, the rise, and fall of the Marathas, the rise of the East Indian Company (EIC), the 1857 revolt, the birth of Indian National Congress (INC) in 1885, the Gandhian Era, and finally the Independence and Partition of India in 1947. This book only provides important notes on these events and does not even go into the details of many events that happened during this period. It is suitable as an overview for a reader who is new to Modern Indian history. You might need to read some other books in conjunction to get a detailed account of this period of Indian history.
Quick Summary:
In this book, the author narrates the story of Modern India beginning with the downfall of the Moghul Empire during the early 18th century. He examines the various reasons for the downfall of the glorious empire. The void in the political sphere of India created by the fall of such a powerful dynasty was to be filled by numerous small kingdoms. The Marathas had come to paramount power during the late 18th century. But during their westward expansion, they met with the Afghan forces under the leadership of Ahmad Shah Abdali in the third Battle of Panipat only to suffer a loss. This and the repeated plunder of Delhi by Nadir Shah earlier and Ahmad Shah Abdali during this period provided the EIC an opportunity to assess the situation. After the Battle of Plassey in 1757, the EIC has been the de facto ruler of Bengal. From here on, the company shrewdly used the strategy of "Divide and Conquer" policy to gradually subjugate majority of India.
The common suffering and misery endured by the people across the country under the company rule gradually united them against one common enemy - the EIC. After the first major revolt in 1857, the British took the control of India into its own hands from the EIC. This only further increased the sufferings of the people such as huge burden of taxation and many other forms of suppression. Decades of the EIC rule plunged India into economic backwardness and its people into poverty and illiteracy. The lack of sense of unity among the people in various parts of India was time and again exploited by the EIC. In 1885, a group of western educated Indians formed the Indian National Congress under the supervision of a retired British civil servant in India.
INC was at the forefront in the nationalist movement of India. During the first phase (1885-1907), the moderate nationalists were active in filing petitions to the government to improve the administration. But the militant nationalism took over the second phase of the nationalist movement which also spread to INC. During both these phases, the mass movement involving people was absent. In 1919 Gandhi, who earlier returned from South Africa after leading the Indian people there against racial discrimination, took over the reins of Indian National Movement. This marks the beginning of Gandhian Era, which evoked a mass reaction from the people across the subcontinent. Also, during late 1920's, India witnessed many revolutionaries (Bhagat Singh, Azad, etc.) who sacrificed their lives for the independence of India. Slowly, the young socialist leaders such as Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose became active in the INC. In spite of all the movements, revolts, and uprisings, the British were not yet ready to leave India. This period also saw the rise of communalism in India.
In 1939, the second world war broke out and Britain which fought on the side of allies had to fight on many fronts. The Indian Army was used to fight the British wars without a consensus of its people. The popular revolt for Indian Independence in 1942 was suppressed by jailing majority of Indian freedom fighters. Subhas Chandra Bose formed the Indian National Army in South East Asia and along with the help of Japanese army reached till Burma. The plan was that they will enter India via Burma and release the Indian people from the yolk of British rule. But, Japan's retreat and the sudden death of Bose halted the aspirations of INA. After 1945, Gandhi and other freedom fighters who were just released from jail fought the final struggle for Independence. Due to various reasons, the British finally chose to grant the Independence to India. The British and the Indian politicians accepted the partition of India based on the demands of the communal forces. During the partition which was hurried and recklessly planned by the British, India witnessed one of the horrific killings of both Hindus and Muslim moving across the frontiers of the newly formed India. Nevertheless, plagued with economic backwardness, the looming darkness of partition, on the midnight hour of 14th August 1947, India became independent. This ends and begins the making of Indian Nation.
This book provides a brief summary of the Indian history from the period of the downfall of Moghul Empire (1707- Aurangazeb's death) to the Indian Independence from the British rule in 1947. It provides an account of the following events of the Modern Indian History: the fall of Mughal Empire, the rise, and fall of the Marathas, the rise of the East Indian Company (EIC), the 1857 revolt, the birth of Indian National Congress (INC) in 1885, the Gandhian Era, and finally the Independence and Partition of India in 1947. This book only provides important notes on these events and does not even go into the details of many events that happened during this period. It is suitable as an overview for a reader who is new to Modern Indian history. You might need to read some other books in conjunction to get a detailed account of this period of Indian history.
Quick Summary:
In this book, the author narrates the story of Modern India beginning with the downfall of the Moghul Empire during the early 18th century. He examines the various reasons for the downfall of the glorious empire. The void in the political sphere of India created by the fall of such a powerful dynasty was to be filled by numerous small kingdoms. The Marathas had come to paramount power during the late 18th century. But during their westward expansion, they met with the Afghan forces under the leadership of Ahmad Shah Abdali in the third Battle of Panipat only to suffer a loss. This and the repeated plunder of Delhi by Nadir Shah earlier and Ahmad Shah Abdali during this period provided the EIC an opportunity to assess the situation. After the Battle of Plassey in 1757, the EIC has been the de facto ruler of Bengal. From here on, the company shrewdly used the strategy of "Divide and Conquer" policy to gradually subjugate majority of India.
The common suffering and misery endured by the people across the country under the company rule gradually united them against one common enemy - the EIC. After the first major revolt in 1857, the British took the control of India into its own hands from the EIC. This only further increased the sufferings of the people such as huge burden of taxation and many other forms of suppression. Decades of the EIC rule plunged India into economic backwardness and its people into poverty and illiteracy. The lack of sense of unity among the people in various parts of India was time and again exploited by the EIC. In 1885, a group of western educated Indians formed the Indian National Congress under the supervision of a retired British civil servant in India.
INC was at the forefront in the nationalist movement of India. During the first phase (1885-1907), the moderate nationalists were active in filing petitions to the government to improve the administration. But the militant nationalism took over the second phase of the nationalist movement which also spread to INC. During both these phases, the mass movement involving people was absent. In 1919 Gandhi, who earlier returned from South Africa after leading the Indian people there against racial discrimination, took over the reins of Indian National Movement. This marks the beginning of Gandhian Era, which evoked a mass reaction from the people across the subcontinent. Also, during late 1920's, India witnessed many revolutionaries (Bhagat Singh, Azad, etc.) who sacrificed their lives for the independence of India. Slowly, the young socialist leaders such as Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose became active in the INC. In spite of all the movements, revolts, and uprisings, the British were not yet ready to leave India. This period also saw the rise of communalism in India.
In 1939, the second world war broke out and Britain which fought on the side of allies had to fight on many fronts. The Indian Army was used to fight the British wars without a consensus of its people. The popular revolt for Indian Independence in 1942 was suppressed by jailing majority of Indian freedom fighters. Subhas Chandra Bose formed the Indian National Army in South East Asia and along with the help of Japanese army reached till Burma. The plan was that they will enter India via Burma and release the Indian people from the yolk of British rule. But, Japan's retreat and the sudden death of Bose halted the aspirations of INA. After 1945, Gandhi and other freedom fighters who were just released from jail fought the final struggle for Independence. Due to various reasons, the British finally chose to grant the Independence to India. The British and the Indian politicians accepted the partition of India based on the demands of the communal forces. During the partition which was hurried and recklessly planned by the British, India witnessed one of the horrific killings of both Hindus and Muslim moving across the frontiers of the newly formed India. Nevertheless, plagued with economic backwardness, the looming darkness of partition, on the midnight hour of 14th August 1947, India became independent. This ends and begins the making of Indian Nation.